NO ifs, no buts, Miguel Cotto will finish his career this year. The Puerto Rican legend fights Yoshihiro Kamegai on Saturday (August 26) at the StubHub Center in Carson, California for the WBO super-welterweight title.

After that he expects to have the 47th and final fight of his career in December and Cotto remains adamant that he will then never box again. “The decision is already made. I’m leaving on December 31 no matter what happens in my career,” Cotto said.

He explained, “I think 16 years is enough. I have other things to do in my life. I have to take care of family.”

“I enjoyed my whole career,” he continued. “I’m really proud of the kind of career that I had.”

Cotto however will focus on the task at hand this weekend. “First of all I am just thinking about Kamegai and August 26,” he maintained. “I’m going to do my fight.

“Let’s see what Kamegai’s going to bring.”

“I’m always here to do my best, to do whatever it takes to get the victory,” he added. “I’m coming with the same kind of mind for this fight.”

He would not be drawn to comment Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor, which happens on the same day as his fight, nor indeed opine on his recent conqueror, Canelo Alvarez and the Mexican’s upcoming middleweight showdown with Gennady Golovkin. “I have no opinion. I’m really busy,” he said stonily. “I have enough things to think about.”

He also wouldn’t allow himself to look beyond Saturday and speculate on whom a desirable opponent for his final fight might be. “We’re going to do what we always do. We’re going to pick the best challenger out there and we’re going to face them,” he said. “All I want is to finish my career in the best way possible.”